Endangered pygmy hog population rises from 6 to 194 in Assam through conservation and breeding programme

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday highlighted the sucess of pygmy hog conservation and breeding programme by stating that the population of critically endangered species has recorded an impressive increase from just six to 194 in the state.
In a post on X, Sarma described the recovery as “a remarkable story of conservation, patience and decades of dedicated effort”.
“Small hog. Big comeback,” the chief minister said, while setting a target of increasing the pygmy hog population to 300 by 2040 so that the species can thrive on its own.
Pygmy hog was once on the brink of extinction and that its conservation and captive breeding programme began with six pygmy hogs collected from Manas National Park.
The pygmy hog is one of the world’s smallest and rarest wild pig species and is native to the grasslands of the Himalayan foothills. Assam has been at the centre of efforts to conserve the species and restore its population.
The increase from six animals to 194 through captive breeding and reintroduction into the wild marks a significant improvement in the species’ population. The target of 300 by 2040 sets a longer-term goal for its recovery.
Conservation of the pygmy hog is closely linked to the protection and restoration of its grassland habitats in Assam that also support several other threatened species.
India’s only native wild pig species, pygmy hog is one of the world’s rarest mammals, which is dependent on Assam’s unique tall alluvial grasslands.